106,000 ADAS-certified technicians will be needed by 2030 as the number of vehicles in the UK car parc with Level 2 autonomy increases the IMI has warned, but a new study from the body shows just 3,000 mechanics are qualified at present.

The new report - Meeting the Demand for Skilled Vehicle Technicians in the Age of ADAS, warns that the skills gap in this area could impact on overall road safety unless it is urgently addressed.

At present, 5% of the UK car parc feature level 2 autonomy, where the vehicle can control acceleration, braking, and steering. With the existing 3,000 technicians with IMI TechSafe qualifications to work on vehicles featuring ADAS, there is already a shortage of 6,000 mechanics.

By 2030, 44% of cars on UK roads will include ADAS. At the current rate techs are getting qualified, there will be a 51,000 technician shortfall in just seven years. By contrast, the accident repair, body and glazing sectors have proportionately more ADAS-qualified staff.. The IMI estimates that there are currently 1,800 technicians ADAS qualified in these subsectors with a requirement for 25,000 technicians ADAS qualified by 2030.

IMI CEO Steve Nash observed: “It is no exaggeration to say that it is a matter of life and death that these technologically advanced vehicles are maintained only by fully qualified technicians. The skills need is immediate with such a significant proportion of UK cars already using Level 2 autonomy. It is also critical to recognise the serious economic impact of the skills gap. A lack of qualified workforce means delays in vehicle repairs, undermining UK mobility.”

For the full report, visit: https://tide.theimi.org.uk/industry-latest/research/imi-adas-report